Friday, August 31, 2012

Geology and the Genesis Flood

The biblical Flood and geology—a closer look at plate tectonics
and how they could explain the biblical Flood. An approach from world's
mythology is also taken, proving the global character of the Flood.
Evidence from the geologic and fossil records is analyzed and explained
in accordance with the biblical account.

Dr Emil Silvestru

Geologist/karstologist

Biography

Dr Silvestru earned his Ph.D in geology at the ‘Babes-Bolyai’ University
in Cluj, Romania (where he has worked as an associate professor), in karst sedimentology
including caves. (Karst is a term which initially referred to barren regions of
mostly limestone and dolomite, noted for spectacular and distinctive landforms,
and with substantial underground drainage features — caves, underground rivers,
etc. It has come to refer more to the entire geosystem, above and below ground.)
A world authority on the geology of caves, he has published 41 scientific papers
(see below), written one book (The Cave Book—see
below) and co-authored two books. He was, until recently, the
head scientist at the world’s first Speleological Institute (speleology =
the study of caves) in Cluj. Since 1997 he has been a full-time researcher and speaker
with CMI.
His areas of expertise include: Sedimentology of clastic deposits, stratigraphy
of limestone terranes, general geology, karst genesis and functioning, cave climate
and glaciology, show-cave assessment & designing, ore prospecting and exploration
(surface and mining).
After becoming a Christian he quickly realized that the ‘millions of years’
interpretation, so common in geology, was not compatible with Genesis. ‘Once
I became a Christian,’ Emil says, ‘I knew I had to “tune up”
my scientific knowledge with the Scriptures.’

‘Although philosophically and ethically I accepted a literal Genesis from
my conversion, at first I was unable to match it with my “technical”
side.’

Given exceptional conditions (e.g. the Genesis Flood) geological processes that
take an extremely long time today can be unimaginably accelerated.

The Genesis Flood was global, not regional.

‘These factors were immensely important in my conversion and my Christian
life. I am now convinced of six-day, literal, recent, Genesis creation. That doesn't
mean that there are not still some unanswered problems, but researching such issues
is what being a scientist is all about.’

He has over 30 years experience in climbing and spelunking, educating many young
spelunkers and mountain climbing devotees as well as participating in mountain and
cave rescue operations.
In January 2002 he immigrated to Canada from Romania with his wife and two daughters.
In addition to doing research and writing for CMI, he now also on staff at CMI Canada
as a Seminar Lecturer, and has written a number of articles for the Journal of Creation, Creation magazine
and this website, and produced several DVDs.
In 2012 Emil suffered a stroke from which
he has not yet fully recovered.

Cocean Pompei, SILVESTRU Emil (1988)The Role of Magmatism in the Genesis of Isolated
Massifs Karst Relief of the Trascau–Metaliferi Mountains. Travaux de l'Institut
de Spéologie “Emil Racovitza”, Bucureşti, t.XXVII:89–93.

SILVESTRU Emil (1989) Several Considerations on the Tectonics of the Underground
Fossil Glacier in the Cave Ghetarul de la Scarisoara (Romania). Travaux de l'Institut
de Spéologie “Emil Racovitza”, Bucureşti, t.XXVIII:77–86.

Cociuba Ioan, SILVESTRU Emil (1989) Hypothesis on a genetical Relation Between the
Actual Karst and the Bauxite-Bearing paleokarst at the Jurassic/Creatceous Boundary
in the Piatra Craiului Mountains (Romania). Travaux de l'Institut de Spéologie
“Emil Racovitza”, Bucureşti,t.XXVIII, p.87–90.

Book

DVDs

Emil Silvestru stroke recovery

Published: 5 July 2012 (GMT+10)

Canada’s Dr Emil Silvestru
has unfortunately suffered a stroke. Although he is recovering remarkably well given
the severity of the stroke, please pray for Emil’s full recovery and for CMI-Canada
while Emil is unable to do any speaking.

Emil has fully recovered his musculo-skeletal functioning (the physiotherapy being
performed by his wife Flory) but recovery of speech function is proceeding slowly.

Emil is currently receiving Employment Insurance but this only amounts to a little
more than half of his regular modest salary. With the family having arrived from
communist Romania penniless late in life, this leaves them in significant difficulty,
and the ministry’s capacity to help is limited.

If you feel led to help the Silvestrus financially please send a cheque to them
directly at:45311 Spruce Dr Chilliwack, BC V2R 1E9

Please be aware of potentially high banking fees if sending cheques drawn on foreign banks.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Genesis: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Most church leaders agree that the western world is becoming ‘less Christian’
every year. Did this happen by chance, or is there a deeper issue? Like a giant
puzzle, the church can’t seem to find the ‘missing piece’. Filled with relevant
topics including science, ethics, evangelism, morality, history and Christian
theology, this talk explains the key controversies surrounding the
creation/evolution topic and equips Christians to understand why it is far from
a side issue in the church.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Genesis and the Gospel Connection

This is a general introduction to the origins issue and why it is
important to Christian theology. It deals with common misconceptions
about science, ‘facts’ and Genesis, and demonstrates that many moral and
social problems are the result the rejection of God as creator. It also
explains how accepting ‘millions of years’ and trying to add it to the
Bible causes massive theological inconsistencies, as well as being
inconsistent with science. The conclusion is that the Bible's history
makes sense of the observations from science.
Presented by Richard Fangrad

Part 1

Walter Martin (Christian) debates Madalyn Murray O'Hair (Atheist) on issues as the existence of God, historical person of Christ, and other general knowledge of religion.

Madalyn Murray O'Hair (April 13, 1919 – September 29, 1995) was an American atheist activist. She was the founder of the organization American Atheists and served as its president from 1963 to 1986. One of her sons, Jon Garth Murray, was the president of the organization from 1986 to 1995, while she remained de facto president during these nine years. She is best known for the Murray v. Curlett lawsuit, which led to a landmark Supreme Court
ruling ending official Bible-reading in American public schools in
1963. This came one year after the Supreme Court prohibited officially
sponsored prayer in schools in Engel v. Vitale. O'Hair later founded American Atheists and became so controversial that in 1964 Life magazine referred to her as "the most hated woman in America."[1][2]

In 1995 she was kidnapped and murdered, along with her son Jon Murray
and granddaughter Robin Murray O'Hair, by former American Atheist
office manager David Roland Waters.

Part 2

Walter Martin
Dr. Martin held four earned degrees and received his education at
Stony Brook School and Shelton College. He completed his Master's
degree at New York University, and his Ph.D. at California Coast
University. He authored twelve books, six booklets, and scores of
articles. His tracts have been translated into a number of languages
and circulated in the millions of copies around the world. He was a
recognized authority on religions having their origins in the United
States and is widely accepted as the "father" of the modern Christian
Counter-cult Movement.

Dr. Martin was the Founder and President of the Christian Research Institute, author of the classic reference work, The Kingdom of the Cults, and the host of the nationally syndicated Bible Answer Man radio program.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

15 Questions for Evolutionists

Why is a fundamentally religious idea, a dogmatic belief system that fails to
explain the evidence, taught in science classes? Karl Popper,
famous philosopher of science, said “Darwinism is not a testable scientific
theory, but a metaphysical [religious] research programme ….”13 Michael Ruse, evolutionist
science philosopher admitted, “Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution
in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.”14If “you can’t teach religion in science
classes”, why is evolution taught? See:
The religious nature of evolution, “It’s not science”.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Science involves experimenting to figure out how things work; how
they operate. Why is evolution, a theory about history, taught as if
it is the same as this operational science? You cannot do
experiments, or even observe what happened, in the past. Asked if evolution has
been observed, Richard Dawkins said, “Evolution has been observed. It’s
just that it hasn’t been observed while it’s happening.”12 See:
A valid distinction: origins science versus operational science.

We
analyze the "Delk slab," a Paluxy river rock containing a fossil human
footprint upon which a dinosaur stepped. We explain the use of CT
scanners in analyzing the rock and examine and interpret the CT scanner
X-rays of the Delk slab. This was a practical approach, as the CT scan
produced over 800 X-rays, making it a serious challenge to displaying
the X-rays. And so video was the most practical application of
displaying the X-ray images and their interpretation. The X-rays
authenticate both tracks, making this slab of rock excellent evidence
that dinosaurs and humans lived together.

by Creation.com Where are the scientific breakthroughs due to evolution? Dr Marc Kirschner, chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, stated: “In fact, over the last 100 years, almost all of biology has proceeded independent of evolution, except evolutionary biology itself. Molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, have not taken evolution into account at all.”9 Dr Skell wrote, “It is our knowledge of how these organisms actually operate, not speculations about how they may have arisen millions of years ago, that is essential to doctors, veterinarians, farmers … .”10 Evolution actually hinders medical discovery.11 Then why do schools and universities teach evolution so dogmatically, stealing time from experimental biology that so benefits humankind? See: Is evolution relevant or helpful to real science?

Thursday, August 16, 2012

* Answers in Genesis Molecular Geneticist on Real Science Friday for the Anniversary of CT's Fiasco: Real Science Friday's Bob Enyart interviews Georgia Purdom, Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University on Christianity Today's denial that God made Adam from the dust of the earth. One year ago CT published their cover story, The Search for the Historical Adam which rejected the truth of Scripture for the bizarre old-earth idea that God put human souls into perhaps a couple hundred, or a couple thousand, animals which had evolved from ape-like creatures. CT's story claimed that genetic science requires this reinterpretation of God's Word. Enter Dr. Purdom.

* Molecular Genetics Expert Rejects the Christianity Today Compromise: Dr. Georgia Purdom, Answers in Genesis molecular geneticist who has published papers in peer-reviewed journals including in the Journal of Neuroscience is qualified to speak to the issue. Dr. Purdom also invites folks to see AiG's Ark Encounter project a 500-foot long life-sized Ark out of wood just as Noah would have!

* Looking Back to RSF's 2011 Christianity Today Program: For our audience's convenience, here's the show summary from last year's RSF show on CT's Search for Adam:

* Christianity Today Denies that God Made Adam from the Dust of the Earth: Real Science Friday co-hosts Fred Williams and Bob Enyart rebut the CT story, The Search for the Historical Adam, revealing the science and Scripture that Christianity Today choose not to include. CT omitted the many discoveries published by evolutionists in refereed scientific journals that support the Genesis account of the special creation of Adam and Eve in the recent past. And the magazine also failed to warn readers that the liberal churches that affirm abortion and homosexuality, and that even deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ, all began their moral and spiritual downward slide by denying the historicity of the foundational book of Genesis. Christianity Today is following in their footsteps with their claim that God put a human soul into animals that had evolved from ape-like creatures.

Actual measured mutation rates, in fact, as reported by Ann Gibbons in Science magazine indicate that, if these rates have been constant, "mitochondrial Eve… would be a mere 6000 years old." See the latest in the scientific observations on the genetic information about Adam and Eve in Bob's article, Why Was Canaan Cursed?

* Christianity Today's Missing Scripture: As for the Scriptural implications of CT's allegation, Bob and Fred point out that Moses, Paul, and Jesus all referred to Adam as a literal person and the creation account is presented as historical, with Jesus reminding people that "from the beginning of the creation [not after billions of years], God made them male and female," ( Mark 10:6 ). Today Real Science Friday explains something that Christianity Today left out of their article, that CT and those who reject the literal meaning of Genesis, who:
- do away with a literal Adam, also
- do away with the biblical teaching of no death before Adam, and
- do away with the six literal days of creation, and
- do away with the global flood, and
- do away with the Tower of Babel, and
- do away with the "order" of the days of creation, and
- do away with God making man from the dust of the ground, and
- by claiming that "Adam" may have been an incorporation of thousands of individuals, they even undermine the New Testament's genealogy of Jesus Christ; also, such compromised Christians typically also
- do away with the the fall of Jericho, and
- do away with the historicity even of Joshua's battles, and
- do away with the book of Jonah, and with many other events that the Bible and Jesus present not as parables or symbols but as actual history. And as the foundation goes, so goes the temple of the house of God, and Christians then begin to see even the resurrection of Christ as a metaphor.